Improvement in harvesting-machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVE'STING-IVIACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 16,6 l5), dated February 10,' 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER A. VOOD, of Uoosck Falls, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harvesting- Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents in perspective so much ot' a harvesting-machine as will illustrate the peculiarity ot' myinvention. Fig. 2 represents the outside shoe with fragmentary potions of those parts which connect it with the frame of the machine shown in place. Fig. 3 repre-V sents a similar view of the outside shoe with the track-clearer combined therewith.

Similar letters of reference, where theyoccur in the several figures, denote like parts of the machine in all.

The nature of my invention consists in the manner in which I have combined a spring track-clearer with the cutter-bar and shoe, so that it may have through its spring a vertical motion to pass over any obstruction, and the necessary rigidity horizontally to resist the pressure of the grass against it to move it out of the track of the machine on its return swath.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings.

A represents the linger-bar; B, the rear bar ot' the frame, and O the shoe, to which both bars are firmly united at the outer part of the machine. These bars AB are also firmly united to the frame D, in which the gearing of the machine-is arranged.

The track-clearer E is a vertical board, but standing at such inclination to the direction of the machine as to move the grass that is cut far enough away from that which is left standing to leave a clear track or path for the machine on its return swath. The said trackclearer is hung to the linger-bar A by a dat angular-shaped spring-plate, F, which will allow the heel of the clearer E to rise over any obstruction, but be kept in constant contact with the surface over which it is'drawn..

To relieve the spring F from the pressure of the grass against the board E, the point of' said board enters between two lugs or projections, ct ,'made on the heel ot' the shoe C, so that while the board will rise vertically between said lugs it cannot he pushed horizontally or out ot' its vertical position. rlhis makes the track-clearer entirely eifective in performing its functions, while it has none of the disadvantages of either the hinged trackclearer or ot those which are controlled vertically by a spring, but have no effectual means of resisting side pressure.

I am aware that a guide or brace against Y lateral pressure has been used in a track-clearer that was pivoted or hinged to the shoe in front of the cutter-bar; but my arrangement dlifers obstruction is passed and im mediately assumes its working position again.

Having thus fully described the nature ot' myinvention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with the iinger bar A and shoe O, a track-clearer, E, hung to said bar by a spring, F, and playing vertically between but resisted laterally by the lugs a a ou said shoe, when said parts are constructed and arranged in relation to each other substantially as herein set forth.

WAL'IE R A. WOOD.

Wi tn esses J. RUSSELL PARSONS, EDW. KIRKLAND. 

